By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–A suspect who was allegedly involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Helena on May 2 has requested that a hearing be held to reduce his bond total of $75,000 so his family can post bail, to be released under supervision of a pre-trial release or to be released to reside at a work release center, according to court documents.

On Aug. 11, charges of manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance against 28-year-old Bessemer man Damian Lamar Jackson were bound over to a grand jury after a preliminary hearing.

Jackson was arrested and charged with manslaughter, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries on May 3. The charges came after 33-year-old Helena resident Holley Myrick was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident on the afternoon of Monday, May 2.

Jackson allegedly struck her with a Yukon XL SUV and fled the scene of the accident, but was later apprehended after an Alabaster police officer located Jackson and the Yukon in a driveway in Alabaster.

Jackson currently remains in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $75,000 and on Dec. 8 filed a motion to reduce his bond stating the bond is “inappropriately and unconstitutionally high” for a non-capital offense.

The motion also states the defendant’s “age, residence, employment, financial condition, background, family ties and relationships, lack of a significant prior criminal record and reliability as vouched by responsible members of the community” as other reasons to lower the bond.

A hearing to reduce Jackson’s bond was originally scheduled for Dec. 20 but was rescheduled.

On Dec. 16, Shelby County Circuit Judge Lara Alvis ordered the bond hearing and status hearing to be rescheduled to Jan. 3, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.

Manslaughter is a Class B felony and if convicted, Jackson faces up to 20 years in prison.

Leaving the scene of an accident with injury is a Class C felony and if convicted, Jackson faces up to 10 years in prison.